Chapter 17 - Leaving the Nest

The sun hung low in the sky as Ash marched closer to the bustling Sky City. The atmosphere ahead was the polar opposite of the imposing stone walls of the Skyfort. It was all thanks to the wide road that cut through the city's heart, which contributed to the bustling and noisy environment. Merchants haggled with customers, cattle herders shouted at their livestock, and travelers bustled about.

As Ash observed the commotion, he couldn't help but have a somber realization. Its really been ten years since I passed through here... When the Skyfort took me in... After the Lunns...

A wave of memories threatened to resurface, but he clenched his teeth and pushed them aside. I don't want to think about that right now. Instead, Ash shifted his attention to the old palace at the far end of the city. This structure harked back to a time when Sky City had been the Empire's capital, before an emperor had grown weary of the stench of cattle. He had moved the capital, but the city's importance remained, as it served as a vital link in the supply chain for Talon's dragons.

Wonder who lives there now? Despite having to take a moment to repress the memories of his life from before, Ash couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

It had been three weeks of waiting after his meeting in the office, before he finally got his transfer orders. Three long weeks of the same old routine, absent the forest excursions, yet now he was about to embark on a three-month journey. This journey would take them from the old capital to the new one, leading them westward through the ancient and massive forest known as the Green Sea.

It was a daunting prospect, but Ash felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Hiss. In the covered wagon next to him, Rasp shifted restlessly in a nest of hay. The wagon was going to be their home for the journey to come and the black-scaled dragon was still getting used to the bumpy, swaying ride. And the new neighbors. Because they weren't going alone.

A platoon of soldiers had been assigned to escort them to the capital, more than fifty strong. They were accompanied by four other wagons, and the entire group would join a merchant caravan to enhance their safety.

As the wagon rolled onto the city's main street, Ash hopped inside and lifted the tailgate. He knew that his presence would help ease Rasp's discomfort and anxiety, which was essential for dealing with the noise and the strangers around them. Moreover, he wasn't the one in charge of meeting up with the caravan.

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Ash began patting Rasp's side firmly, and his dragon leaned into the reassuring touch with a soft sigh. As he continued to comfort Rasp, a question lingered in his mind. What was the plan to deal with Rasp's stomach during this journey? It was an important question to Ash, because he didn't want to stunt his partner's already slow growth.

"Oi! Dragonboy Ash." Hiss!

A voice interrupted Ash's contemplation. He turned to see a tall, imposing figure pacing at a reasonable distance from the back of their wagon. It was the leader of the escorting platoon they'd been assigned for the upcoming trip.

The man's name was Captain Thorne, a clean-shaven grizzled veteran with a scarred and weathered face that spoke of long service and experience. One of his scars was rather nasty, a cut down an eyebrow and across the bridge of his nose. It had just missed taking an eye by Ash's guess.

The youth didn't know him too well. Just that he was called Scarface behind his back by the soldiers. At the Skyfort, officers like him lived a different routine and ate in their own seperate mess hall.

Although Ash wasn't acquainted with the captain, he hoped to avoid causing any trouble during the journey. As he prepared to get up, Captain Thorne signaled for him to remain seated.

He had a chilling presence, and his voice carried the cold weight of authority, "Dragonboy Ash, I'm going to need you to keep your dragon calm now that we are in the city. Can you do that?" Captain Thorne asked, while steadily assessing Ash.

I sure hope so. "Yes, sir," Ash replied, delivering a salute while seated.

Thorne nodded, seemingly content with Ash's response, and briefly turned his gaze to Rasp. The dragon met the captain's stare with a cocked head.

"Good. We'll be halting to confirm the General's arrangement with the Dessur caravan. It might be awhile." With that, Thorne continued on his way, leaving Ash and Rasp alone in the gently swaying wagon.

Their convoy didn't resume its journey until the sun started dipping below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over Sky City. They had been stationary in a side street long enough for Ash and Rasp to succumb to a brief slumber.

The jolt as they started moving again was enough to rouse them to alertness. Keeping Rasp happy hadn't been that hard, the boy was relieved to notice.

As they looked out the back of the wagon, Ash noted that they all seemed to be rolling out of town. And that the streets were considerably quieter.

Crawling to the head of the wagon, he lifted a cover flap and called out to the soldier seated at the reins, "Where are we headed now?"

The driver spoke while keeping his eyes forward, "We're meeting up with the caravan and camping outside the city for the night. Captain's orders."

Was it because of Rasp? "Because of my dragon?"

The driver chuckled, shaking his head. "No, lad. Some of the men wanted to enjoy a drink tonight before we embark on this journey. But Captain Thorne put a stop to it. Can't blame him. We've got an early start tomorrow."

"Oh, alright. Thank you," he responded.

Ash dropped the flap and crawled back to Rasp. Guess there isn't much more to do today besides making sure we get dinner...